Types and types of lice

Louse - small insect, parasitic on the body of an animal or person. In total, there are about five hundred varieties of parasites in nature and they are all species specific. So the hare louse is parasitic on hares and rabbits, pork lives on the body of pigs and wild boars, birds live on birds, and canine, respectively, on the skin of dogs.What types of lice are dangerous to humans, how they differ and how to get rid of them, this article will tell.

What are lice in humans

On the human body, only two types of lice can parasitize: pubic (Pthirus) and human (Pediculus). They are distinguishable not only in appearance, but also in their habitats. Both types of parasites feed exclusively on human blood, therefore they are not adapted to a different habitat.

On a note!

There is a statement that there are the following types of human lice: head, clothes and pubic. In reality, lice in a person’s head and in his clothes are morphotypes. According to laboratory tests, if they are put together, they can easily interbreed and even give birth to offspring. Accordingly, these are the same representatives of the order of lice belonging to the species Pediculus humanus.

Photos of lice species living on the human body are presented below.

Types of lice

Head lice

Head lice are the most common in humans. The disease they cause is called pediculosis. Insects affect only the scalp.Sometimes they can move to the chin area, dwell in the beard and mustache of the stronger sex. Lice are transmitted contact and household methods: in close contact, when using other people's hats or hair care products (combs, hairpins, etc.).

Body color of pests is one of their main distinguishing characteristics. Most often the elongated body of insects is gray-brown in color, it becomes much darker after a meal. That is why the parasites are called black. Photos of black lice below.

Black lice

Compared with their relatives, the size of lice that live on the human head is larger (up to 4 mm). Males are much smaller than females (2-3 mm). The piercing-sucking type of the oral apparatus allows an insect to bite through the skin of a person and feed on its blood.

On a note!

Without food pest lives no more than a day. The life of a bloodsucker is about three weeks, during which time the female is able to lay up to 5 eggs (nits) daily. Favorable for breeding lice is a temperature in the range of 23-40 degrees. Destructive insect temperature below 0 and above 45 degrees.

What is lice and nits, you may know a person who, to one degree or another, has already encountered pediculosis. Small (up to 0,8 mm) eggs of head lice have a light shade, they look very much like mother-of-pearl beads. The female firmly attaches them to the hair using a secret adhesive substance, usually at a distance of 2 cm from the surface of the skin. Distinguish nits from dandruff an ignorant person is difficult. As the eggs mature, they increase in size and become darker in color. The newly born larva becomes mature in 5-6 days. How do lice and nits in the head, clearly demonstrates the photo.

Due to the fact that parasites use hair for nits placement, pests cannot exist on skin that has no hair. Therefore, the fastest way to get rid of head lice is bald.

Body lice

Payments or linen lice have a similar structure and body size. Their main distinguishing feature is white or gray-yellow color. By the name of this type of pest it is clear that insects live mainly in clothes or underwear of people, making bites on hairless areas of the body. However, settling in the things that a person puts on infrequently, bloodsuckers expect inevitable death. That is why the owners body lice most often people of low social level or vagrants who rarely expose clothes to washing become.

The lifespan of underwear lice is within 1.5 months. During this time, the female is able to spawn more than one hundred descendants. Very small eggs (up to 0.5 mm) white lice lay right in clothes. The development cycle of the larvae takes about two weeks.

Fighting these parasites is less difficult. It is enough to expose the contaminated items to boiling and heat treatment with an iron.

Pubic lice

The smallest parasites that inhabit the human body is pubic licewhich can still be called ploshchitsy. The body size of an adult individual of this species does not exceed 2 mm, the larvae do not differ in large sizes (up to 0.5 mm). The lifetime of insects is 15-30 days. During this time, the female gives life to another 50 larvae. The bloodsuckers attach their eggs to their hair almost in the root zone.

Determine what kind of insect is easy, knowing what color lice.If we consider the pubic parasites with the naked eye, then their image resembles slightly flat motes of transparent brown color. Types of lice in humans are presented below in the photo.

Lice species

On a note!

The habitat of the pubic lice is the groin area, and they can also be found in the armpit, eyebrows and on eyelashes. Sexual contact and the use of foreign clothing are the main ways of infection with pubic lice.

Signs of any kind of lice

Knowing the signs of lice and ways to combat them, you can take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

1. Itching of the skin, which results in strong scratching. Such damage may contribute to the development of a secondary infection.
2. The appearance of a rash. A few days after lice bites red spots appear, which later have a bluish tint.
3. At the site of injury, ulcers and boils develop, as well as pigmentation and compaction.
4. Availability dead nits, living, as well as the lice themselves.

The definition of such symptoms of pediculosis signals the need to take urgent measures for the removal of parasites.

Signs of lice

Treatment methods

Today, the pharmaceutical industry offers a huge range of medicines designed to combat a particular type of parasite.

1. For removing head and pubic lice can be used shampoos, the sprays or ointmentBased on insecticides. The selected tool is used as described. After that, the hair is washed with running water and allowed to dry naturally.
2. The next stage of the struggle is combing nitswhich is carried out using a special scallop. It differs from the usual comb fine and frequent teeth, the distance between which does not exceed 0.2 mm. For better combing hair should be divided into strands.
3. Washing and heat treatment is necessary to tuck things and bedding of an infected person.
4. Most often at pediculosis treatment shampooing or spray requires re-treatment of the head. This is explained by pediculicide agent has an effect mostly on adults. Of the remaining live nits, after a few days, new larvae will appear, which will multiply again.

On a note!

To prevent infection with head lice of other family members, it is necessary to limit close contact with the patient (hugs, games, or kisses). It is also not recommended to wear clothes, a hat, use a towel, comb or barrettes of an infected person. For prophylactic purposes, a thorough inspection and treatment with anti-parasitic shampoo of all family members should be carried out.

Lice Control Techniques

Shampoo

Particularly popular in fight against head and pubic lice conquered shampoos. They are practically safe and easy to use. However, it is possible the manifestation of an allergic reaction in people with sensitive skin.

The following brands of shampoos have proven themselves well: Veda, NOK, Hygia, Bilsim.

Solutions and creams

Solutions and creams are a means of universal value, as they are able to destroy any type of lice. In addition, they are used both for hair and in areas where hair is absent. So, an excellent remedy for pubic and body lice is Medyfox. Get rid of parasites that live on the head, Nittifor lotion or Paranit, cream nix, Benzyl Benzoate Emulsion, D 95.

The sprays

Pediculicidal sprays have similar properties. Their advantage is the possibility of a better processing of the hair part.

Sprays are in great demand among consumers. Avalanche, Pair Plus, Here.

Combs

Get rid of lice it is also possible by a mechanical method, which provides for daily combing with a special comb. The uniqueness of such the crests consists in especially dense placement of teeth that gives the chance for removal of adult parasites and large nits. This method is the safest and can be considered as remedy for pediculosis for pregnant women. However, for the complete removal of lice will require several procedures.

The most effective are the combs Robi Comb, AntiV, NitFree.

On a note!

Also popular and folk remedies for lice. The safest ones are tar soap or vinegar.

Knowing what a person's lice are, what they can cause, and how the disease can spread, you can avoid such trouble.